Chapter 10

It had been about 4 days since Alexis last break down about not having a mummy that loved her and Kate had been there

"Kate?" he asked trying to grab her attention.

"Mmhmm" she moaned. She was too relaxed from the massage Rick was giving her feet. He was sitting on one end of the couch while she was lying with her head on the opposite side and her feet in his lap.

"I want to take you out. Like on a date, without any kids. Have you to myself for a night." She opened her eyes and raised a brow at him "Don't get me wrong, I love hanging out here with you and the kids but I just want…" he was babbling now and Kate decided to put him out of his misery.

"I would love to go out on a kiddy free date with you" she lent up and gave him a kiss "I just have to find a baby sitter for the girls. I'm sure their Aunt Lanie, Uncle Javi or Uncle Kevin would love to if we could plan it around one of their complete day offs when they definitely won't be called in"

At that moment Martha walked down the stairs, she heard most of the conversation between her son and Kate "I can look after all three girls, if you would like?"

"I can't ask you to do that, Martha. You do enough for Mackenzie and Michaela, I can't ask for anymore from you" Ever since Martha realised that he was getting very serious with Kate she had been buying them little things here and there, helping Rick and Kate with caring for them, even just keeping the preoccupied with Alexis while Kate and Rick were busy cooking or cleaning.

"Nonsense, consider it a favour to Rick then. He's been wanting to get you out of the house on a real date for a while now" Martha smiled at the blushing detective.

"Mother" Rick whined, slightly embarrassed himself.

"Speaking of the girls, where are they?" Martha asked looking around curiously.

"Ahh, the twins are asleep in Alexis old nursery" Kate replied back a little shyly. Martha hadn't been around the few times that they had put the twins to bed.

"Kate, the girls have slept in there more than I can count on one hand, I'm fairly sure you can call it their bedroom now." Rick corrected Kate before she could continue her conversation with Martha.

Kate blushed a little as Rick continued talking to Martha "and Alexis went to bed half an hour ago. She said it was because she was tired and had school tomorrow but still insisted in Kate reading a story to her before she fell asleep"

Both Rick and Martha smiled at how close Alexis and Kate had become since the weekend, Rick knew the full reason why but Martha just thought it was because Kate spent so much time here. "We'll I'm just here to get a glass of wine and going to grab my lines to look over, while relaxing in my room. Rick, just let me know what your plans are for this date and I'll be ready to look after the Three kids on that night for however long you want" Martha emphasised the number of children she would be looking after that night for Kate's benefit, the detective just smiled at the eccentric women.

10 minutes later the couple had the lounge back to themselves, it was nearing 9:00, Rick had continued to rub Kate's feet after Martha left and she was now starting to yawn.

"Ready for bed, sweetheart?" Rick asked and Kate nodded, yawning again "5 more minutes" she whispered snuggling further into the couch.

Rick continued to massage until he heard Kate's breathing change, letting him know that the detective was sleeping. He gently extricated himself from between her legs and the couch and kissed her forehead. He left her on the couch to sleep while he pulled the covers of the bed back and get ready for bed himself. When he got back to bring her to bed she had rolled over, facing the back of the seat, with her nose buried into the cushion that she was cuddling. He bent down and picked her up, like he would Alexis and carried her to bed. She was in sweats and a t shirt, not her usual bed wear but she would be comfortable enough. Before jumping into bed himself he went upstairs to let his mother know they were heading to bed, and check on the kids. Alexis was tucked into bed, how they left her and the twins were fast asleep for now. The baby monitor was on, the lights were off and he headed to bed.

Kate was still on her side of the bed when he got there so Rick placed a kiss on her cheek when he passed her. After snuggling into the soft mattress himself he felt, more than saw, Kate move. She moved backwards, towards him, snuggled her back to his chest and pulled his arm around her stomach "Mmhmm. Better." She mumbled. Within 10 minutes the writer had let the brunette's calm deep breathes lull him to sleep.

~CASKETT~

Throughout the night Kate had to get up 3 times to crying babies, she's being trying to develop a sleeping pattern for them, during the day it works fine, she gets the girls up at the same times to feed and have a little play for a couple of hours and then back to bed. But night time they still haven't gotten into a routine.

When Kate woke the sun was shining through the little gap between the curtains, she was alone and the loft was silent, she didn't want to panic, after all she knew Rick wouldn't let anything happen to her kids, but the mother in her couldn't help it. Getting out of bed, she felt less tired than she thought she would with the amount of times she was awake in the last few nights but then she looked at the clock, 9:30 damn it. This was the second morning he had let her sleep in and took care of the girls, she loved the help, she honestly did, but felt it wasn't his responsibility, he didn't have to.

Walking out to the kitchen she called "Rick" but nothing. "Martha" again nothing. Walking into the kitchen she found a note on the counter.

Kate; I know you were up 3 times last night and 5 times the night before. You were exhausted last night so I have stolen the girls for the morning to let you sleep and relax. Please don't be mad, they are dressed accordingly for the weather, cute matching pink and purple jackets with footed jump suits and mittens. They have their shoes and socks on and are quite happy sitting in the pram while I write this note. We are going to walk Alexis to school then maybe the library and the park, we will be back no later than 11, if you want to stay at the loft and relax you can. Have a bubble bath, there is cherry scented wash and bubbles in our ensuite now. If you want to join us, fell free to. Ring me and I'll let you know where we are. I have the baby bag, I took out your wallet and keys, they are on the table next to the door, the bottles of milk you prepared for today are with me and so are the nappies, spare clothes, portable change mat and even a couple of toys and a teddy each.

The girls are in good hands, don't panic. I hope you enjoyed your sleep, I bet you feel better already. See you soon.

Xoxoxoxoxo

Rick, M 'n' M

Kate smiled as she read the note from him 'he is such a good man' she thought 'I really don't deserve him'. Under the familiar scrawl was an elegant looking note.

Seeing as this note was left for you, I thought I would add to it instead of writing a new one. I am also heading out this morning, I won't be back til after 3.00 this afternoon so the loft is yours my darling.

For Rick: I have taught you well my son, you take care of those babies and this beautiful woman you've got here. Don't panic Kate, he seems like a goof ball 24/7 but he does know what he is doing and loves those babies as much as he does Alexis and you.

Xo

Martha

Kate thought about the advice she had been given and decided that a bath would do her good, grabbing a cup of coffee from the espresso machine, she loved this machine, so much better than the precinct coffee and her own at home, she went into the bathroom and began running a bath. His tub was hug, more like a Jacuzzi than a bath tub but she didn't want all the features this time, just bubbles, her coffee and one of Rick's books would do.

Half an hour later the water was getting cold and Kate was missing her girls and her man, as she got out and wrapped Rick's soft bath robe around her she grabbed her phone and hit speed dial number one.

"Please tell me you have been relaxing all this time" he answered the phone.

"As a matter of fact, I have. Thank you, you didn't have to do that. How have my girls been? Behaving?"

"No, they've been little ratbags. Crying all morning, disturbing all the piece…" Rick couldn't keep the smile off his face as he imagines Kate's reaction but jumped in before she could respond "Of course they have been behaving. They are the best babies in the world, so quiet and cute. We've had a few onlookers stop us to play with them at the park. They've had another half a bottle together as a top up before. We are at the park down from Alexis's school if you want to join us?"

"I miss them" Kate stated quietly over the phone "and you. Let me get dressed and I'll take a cab to meet you there so we can walk home together, that okay?"

"Sounds like a plan, honey. See you then"

"See you in about half an hour" and then they hung up.

Kate raced around to get changed, her clothing was now occupying part of his closet and drawers, brushed her teeth and hair, opting for no make-up to hurry up the process.

~CASKETT~

On the way there Kate got a call from Detectives Esposito and Ryan, who were currently stuck in the middle of a case.

"Hey boss, how's maternity leave treating you?" Detective Ryan asked.

"Good, Kev. Sorry, Detective Ryan" not being at work for the last 7 months, forced leave at first due to complications, she had slipped into calling them what the girls will know them as. "What can I do for you this fine morning?"

"You sound cheerful, how are our nieces" Esposito continued on the other line.

"They're good, they are out with a friend of mine at the moment, I'm just heading to meet them. What's up?"

"We need fresh eyes on this case boss, it's on the verge of being closed as a cold case and nothing is popping for us. We know you aren't meant to be coming back for another 2 weeks would you mind coming in for a bit, see if you could shed some light?" Detective Ryan asked, he drew the short straw this morning.

"Uhh, sure. I'll have to see what Rick has planned for an early lunch then I'll come in around 11.15, that sound alright?" Kate asked.

"Thanks, boss" Ryan said.

"Yeah, thanks boss" Esposito confirmed. Hanging up the phone, Kate realised she was just in time for the cab to stop and to arrive at the park. She could see, Rick and the pram near the swing set. He was bending down, looking into the pram.

Kate handed money over to the driver, got out of the cab and headed over. A smile broke out on to her face as she realised that Rick was un-strapping the baby in pink and heading for a swing., surprisingly the pram was silent, must mean the matching purple baby was sleeping.

Rick sat on the swing as Kate was half way across the park, he smiled when he saw her smiling at him and the pram. He was now swinging gently, holding onto a wide awake but very calm Michaela tightly. Kate came over to him, kissing him lightly on the lips and bending down to kiss the baby in his arms, now realising that it was Michaela. The baby was looking up with wide eyes at the man holding her but she smiled when she saw her mum.

"Oh my god, Rick. She's smiling. She hasn't done that yet, neither one has" He pulled his phone out of his jacket with jacket with his other hand, giving it to her with a big smile to take a photo. Noting the date, time and place in his note pad on the iPhone she pocketed it in her own pants for him.

"That's the first time that she's done that today. She smiled at her beautiful mummy" Rick supplied.

Kate just about cried at the sight of her babies smile. She went across to the pram to find her assumptions were right, Mackenzie was conked out sucking on a dummy.

"She has your smile" Rick said looking up from the baby in his arms to the woman smiling proudly at the pram. "She's had her turn on the swing, just before you got here"

Kate nodded then remembered the conversation with the boys "Uhh, I have to stop in at the precinct at quarter past 11. The boys are stuck on a case and want me to share my brilliant mind, they hope I can find something to stop with from going cold"

Rick nodded "Well, we could go and grab lunch now. Do you want me to take them home afterwards and that way you can just come home when you're ready?"

Kate shook her head and Rick look confused. So she elaborated "Lunch sounds great now, I didn't eat breakfast, just coffee. But you can come up with the girls if you want? I don't want to leave them again yet, it'll be bad enough in 2 weeks, and the boys haven't seen them in a couple of weeks"

"That sounds good" Rick smiled at the opportunity to meet Kate's co-workers and extended family. "But wait, what's two weeks?" he asked standing up to put Michie in her pram seat, next to her sister.

"Oh, I was going to tell you tonight. My maternity leave is up in two weeks, I have to go back to work. But they've promised my hours won't be as wacky, if a body drops I have to been on scene as lead detective but I can leave at 5, 6 at the latest every night. The Captain has promised me less on call days so I'm not always left last minute to find a baby sitter, but yeah, two weeks and I'm back at work full time. I don't want to leave them, Rick" Kate said getting a little upset. At first she thought that being at home constantly would annoy her and she wouldn't want her full maternity leave time but after Michie and Mac were born things changed.

The young couple started walking to the exit, Rick pushing the pram and Kate with her arm looped through her partner's leaning her head against his shoulder. 'Deciding to wear flats today was a good idea' she thought 'gives him the prefect height for me to be able to do this'.

"What are you going to do with these guys?" Rick asked as they exited the park and continued to walk towards Remy's. It was getting a little chillier, Kate zipped her coat up and stuck one hand in her pocket and one in his.

"I haven't decided yet, I can't rely on dad at the moment, I never know when he's going to be sober or off his face. I really don't want to hire a permanent nanny, so maybe just a daytime one. I don't know, time has just creeped up on me" Kate replied shrugging realising that she needed to work something out for the kids and get back into shape, proper shape. "I need to start running again in the morning at least, I haven't done much since I was forced on leave"

"How about you leave them with me during the day? I stayed home, looked after Alexis and wrote when she was a baby" Rick asked hopeful.

"I can't ask you to do that, Rick. You really do, do more than enough."

"You're not asking, I'm offering and I would really like to"

"What about when a body drops at god knows what time of the morning?"

"We can discuss all the specifics at home later but simple, you ring, I get up and answer the door when you bring them round. I put them to bed in their room upstairs and go back to bed. That's unless you want to move in with me" he added cheekily.

Before she had a chance to reply to Rick's comment about moving in she realised they were about to enter the precinct, a place she hadn't visited for months, about 2 months before the girls were born and she was nervous.

Hey Guys, so this was the next instalment to KMMRA. I hope you have enjoyed please let me know through reviews. I have fallen in love with writing this story and have so many ideas for it in my head but I would love to hear from you readers as to what you would like to see more of.

I am going away for Christmas in the next couple of days but hopefully I'll still be able to write and update regularly

Xx Merry Christmas to all.